While parting ways with a band you co-founded after five decades may
seem like something of a shock, multi-instrumentalist John McEuen’s
announcement that he’s leaving the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was also a
long time in coming. In announcing his decision last Friday, McEuen
suggested that one reason for his dissatisfaction was the fact that two
years ago he was dismissed from the band corporation he helped
establish, and from that point on he was relegated to the role of an
employee. “In assessing the situation and our musical, performance and
business differences, the timing is appropriate for my departure,” he
said in a prepared statement. “I will move forward with great pride in
my personal and musical contributions to NGDB and now can fully
concentrate on my independent endeavors.”

The independent endeavors McEuen refers to include six solo albums, the latest of which, Made in Brooklyn,
received widespread acclaim, including the best reviews of his solo
career. In addition, he’s been performing 50 shows a year all on his
own, most recently in the company of original Dirt Band member Les
Thompson, NGDB alumnus John Cable and longtime sideman Matt Cartsonis.
At this point, he claims to have more than two dozen dates scheduled for
2018.

“I was never able to book myself more than two
months in advance because I had to wait to see what the band calendar
was going to be,” McEuen explains. “Most people book eight months or a
year in advance. By opening the gate, I have flood of cool places saying
yes. My agents are doing a great job.”

The separation
apparently frees him up financially as well. McEuen claims he’s always
made more money performing solo than he did with the band.